TPS protects recipients from deportation. In some cases, Homeland Security allows immigrants it grants TPS to work legally and even travel. But TPS is temporary. It does not lead directly to lawful permanent residency.

In other words, after the latest extension for Haitians runs out on January 22, 2018, Homeland Security can begin deporting Haitians who received TPS.

In the meantime, Haitians who have already been granted TPS have just 60 days to re-register, starting when Homeland Security announced the extension on May 24. Any Haitian who currently receives TPS mustre-register before July 24 to continue to be part of the program. Those who are authorized to work in the US can continue to do so until January 18—but onlyif they re-register before July 24 and request a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) when they re-register.

The Department of Homeland Security grants TPS to immigrants who come from countries where events such as natural disasters, epidemics, or wars make it too dangerous to return. Historically, Homeland Security often extended TPS. Of the 10 countries eligible, half have been designated as TPS eligible for five years or more. Haitians have been able to receive TPS since just weeks after a major earthquake devastated the country in 2010.

But in a recent New York Times piece, officials at Homeland Security hinted that Secretary John F. Kelly may not extend TPS as readily as his predecessors. In his May 24 press release, Kelly himself stressed that TPS “beneficiaries are encouraged to prepare for their return to Haiti in the event Haiti’s designation is not extended again.”

Haiti’s ambassador to the US, Paul Altidor, says that failing to renew TPS would “create major issues for Haiti” as it struggles to rebuild. He also stresses that six months is not nearly long enough for the Haitian government to prepare to re-integrate nearly 60,000 emigres. Advocates, legislators, and TPS recipients also urge the government to extend TPS eligibility for Haitians.

Secretary Kelly says he will revisit the issue—and that he’ll do so no later than 60 days before the extension for Haitian ends on January 22, 2018. Until then? Haitians living in the US, like so many immigrants today, face an uncertain future.

At our Standby Guardianship Clinic, IASC helped families complete standby guardianship and international travel forms for minor children. A big thank you to all of the volunteers who made this clinic possible!

The ACLU recently launched an ambitious campaign called “Freedom Cities.” In support of this campaign, People Power activists will organize in their local communities to ensure that local law enforcement officials defend – rather than threaten – friends, families, and neighbors. The ACLU hopes to activate a powerful grassroots force to support the ACLU’s efforts to propose, support, and win local laws to protect the civil liberties of all Americans.

On their website, the ACLU proposes a 9 “model” state and local law enforcement policies and rules for the immigration front of their plan.

#1) The Judicial Warrant Rule: [County/City/State] officials shall require a judicial warrant prior to detaining or in any manner prolonging the detention of an individual by (ICE) or (CBP).

#2) No Facilitation Rule: [County/City/State] officials shall not arrest, detain, or transport an individual solely on the basis of an immigration detainer or other administrative document issued by ICE or CBP, without a judicial warrant.

#3) Defined Access/Interview Rule: Unless acting pursuant to a court order or a legitimate law enforcement purpose that is unrelated to the enforcement of a civil immigration law, no [County/City/State] official shall permit ICE or CBP agents access to [County/City/State] facilities or any person in [County/City/State] custody for investigative interviews or other investigative purposes.

#4) Clear Identification Rule: To the extent ICE or CBP has been granted access to [County/City/State] facilities, individuals with whom ICE or CBP engages will be notified that they are speaking with ICE or CBP, and ICE or CBP agents shall be required to wear duty jackets and make their badges visible at all times while in [County/City/State] facilities.

Protect our friends, families and neighbors’ privacy from the Trump administration: #5) Don’t Ask Rule: [County/City/State] officials shall not inquire into the immigration or citizenship status of an individual, except where the inquiry relates to a legitimate law enforcement purpose that is unrelated to the enforcement of a civil immigration law, or where required by state or federal law to verify eligibility for a benefit, service, or license conditioned on verification of certain status.

#6) Privacy Protection Rule: No [County/City/State] official shall voluntarily release personally identifiable data or information to ICE or CBP regarding an inmate’s custody status, release date or home address, or information that may be used to ascertain an individual’s religion, ethnicity or race, unless for a law enforcement purpose unrelated to the enforcement of a civil immigration law.

#7) Discriminatory Surveillance Prohibition Rule: No [County/City/State] agency or official may engage in any surveillance that is based, to any extent or degree, upon a person or group’s actual or perceived religion, ethnicity, race, national origin, or immigration status, except where doing so is based on a reliable, specific description of a suspect and adheres to appropriate Constitutional standards.

#8) Redress Rule: Any person who alleges a violation of this policy may file a written complaint for investigation with [oversight entity].

#9) Fair and Impartial Policing Rule: No [County/City/State] official shall interrogate, arrest, detain or take other law enforcement action against an individual based upon that individual’s perceived race, national origin, religion, language, or immigration status, unless such personal characteristics have been included in timely, relevant, credible information from a reliable source, linking a specific individual to a particular criminal event/activity.

The ACLU also highlights that the Administration has falsely asserted, that if localities do not help advance the mass deportation agenda, they are violating federal law. The following rule, would help ensure your city, county or town establishes its clear intent not to violate federal law.

If you’re a legal permanent resident and have had your green card for 5 years (3 years if you are married to a US citizen) you may be eligible to apply for citizenship. Come to our Free Citizenship Clinic at 261 Main Street in Norwich and trained lawyers and volunteers will help you fill out your application one-on-one. To register or if you have any questions or concerns, please email us at info@iascct.org or call 860-629-7758.

This past Monday the director of IASC Michael Doyle spoke at a forum that demonstrated that both the city and school system were committed to protecting all families, regardless of background or immigration status and to offer practical advice if they were to encounter immigration officers.

Prior to walking in attendees were greeted by supporters holding up heart-shaped signs of solidarity and balloons, setting the tone of community and empathy that the forum later reinforced.

Hundreds of people then packed into the C.B. Jennings Elementary School gymnasium where Superintendent Dr. Manuel Rivera stressed the importance of diversity and the school system’s commitment to providing a welcoming and safe environment for all of their students.

Attorney Michael Doyle outlined how to create an emergency plan if anything were to happen to parents or students which included gathering important documents, medical papers, memorizing important contact information, and keeping a written record.